The Ecological Society of Australia congratulates Professor Euan Ritchie on being awarded the 2021 Australian Ecology Research Award. Professor Ritchie leads the Applied Ecology and Conservation Research group in the Centre for Integrative Ecology and School of Life and Environmental Sciences at Deakin University in Melbourne.

“Australia undoubtedly has many of the best environmental scientists, ecologists and conservation biologists in the world, so to be recognised like this is truly humbling.”

Professor Ritchie’s work focuses on understanding the ecological importance and consequences of species interactions (including predator-prey relationships) and processes (including fire) for ecosystem management, invasive species control and biodiversity conservation. He argues that multiple and often complex interacting processes need to be considered at both local and large geographic scales if conservation objectives are to be effective.

“One of the primary motivators for me, sometimes to painful distraction, is Australia’s really abysmal conservation record,” says Professor Ritchie.

“That’s most infamously known for the mammals, with an estimated 34 mammal species driven to extinction since European invasion. Many hundreds of other species – plants, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates – are equally in a lot of trouble and continue to move perilously close to extinction.”

“If we can manage ecosystems better through greater understanding of species interactions, ecological processes, and the importance of them, we can hopefully help to achieve better conservation outcomes.”

Professor Ritchie was part of the research group awarded the 2013 Eureka Prize for Environmental Research for their work demonstrating that large predators such as dingoes can affect the behaviour and abundance of herbivores and invasive species like the red fox, feral cat and feral goats. This in turn can reduce overgrazing of habitat and provides a degree of protection for the small native prey that would be otherwise at increased risk from introduced predators. He was also part of a large, national team listed as finalists in the 2020 Eureka Prize for their work examining the impact and management of feral cats.

Professor Ritchie’s research has helped to shift the emphasis in several conservation programs towards a more integrated, multi-species approach and has prompted management agencies to take a more sympathetic and holistic position on dingo management. His broad conservation and ecology expertise has also helped to inform and strengthen environmental policy tools such as Australia’s Threatened Species Strategy and Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

More widely he has become a prolific science communicator, appearing regularly on television, in print and on radio.

“Creating awareness in the community and changing decisions and actions to help improve the conservation status of ecosystems and species is what I care most deeply about,” says Professor Ritchie.

“It’s never been more important to communicate science and make that accessible to as many people in as many ways as possible, so that society can understand the consequences of our actions and how we can make better decisions that lead to a more sustainable future.”

“But just as importantly, the immense value of simply sharing the awe and wonder of the natural world shouldn’t be underestimated.”

This enthusiasm for science communication extends to the more than 50 postdoctoral, PhD, masters, and honours students that Professor Ritchie feels privileged to have helped train and mentor. Many of these former students and colleagues are now highly successful young leaders in Australian ecology themselves.

“I really enjoy getting other people excited about ecology and conservation, and especially early career scientists,” says Professor Ritchie.

“I think perhaps what’s most exciting is hopefully having that positive, long-term impact on others and helping them to go on to do wonderful things and have successful careers.”

“Conservation and ecology can be a brutal and sometimes pretty heartbreaking game at times, but I take considerable inspiration from many collaborators and colleagues doing wonderful things. Despite heavy losses, we are also having important wins and together we can have even more and greater wins.”

Professor Ritchie’s advice for students and early career ecologists:

• Pursue your curiosity and passions.
• Work with a diverse range of people and always be open to collaboration.
• Be prepared for your interests and focus to change throughout your career.
• Never stop asking questions.
• Find yourself kind and supportive mentors to help you along the way, and provide the same help to others when you can.

The Australian Ecology Research Award (AERA) is conferred by the Ecological Society of Australia and aims to recognise outstanding ecological research. All nominations are reviewed by an independent panel of expert ecologists from around Australia to select a winner.

Professor Ritchie will deliver the AERA Plenary at this year’s annual conference of the Ecological Society of Australia in November.